Don't Spend $$$ On Blackout Day: It’s A Cheap Way to Have A Lot of Political Clout

A coalition of protest groups has called for an “economic blackout day” tomorrow, February 28—a day when those challenging Donald Trump’s illegal activities send a message to major retailers that are caving to his demands.

It’s a shot-across-the-bow action. A demonstration of how much power consumers have to economically punish businesses that trade their principles to appease Trump.

I’ve never been a fan of economic boycotts. A business is more than the public politics of its management. Retail and wholesale employees and their communities also suffer when boycotts work. There’s a lot of collateral damage among those whose personal politics may not align with the people they are working for.

But in Trump World, everything is political. The Post Office. The arts. Even disaster response. The rising opposition is not just to a single issue like abortion or a basket of them called “woke.” What’s at risk with Trump is our justice system, the Constitutional authority of Congress and the courts, church and state separation—pretty much every pillar on which our system of government is anchored.

How Corporations Play a Role in Political Influence

In this conflict, corporate policies are important, especially given the current see-no-evil legal environment Trump is creating—where corporations and business people can contribute unlimited money through devious channels such as bitcoins and sham businesses. And they are “encouraged” to do so in schemes that resemble mafioso-like protection rackets, all without much fear of facing legal consequences.

In this environment, the public is not powerless.

Many business leaders hesitate to use their enormous lobbying leverage on members of Congress to fight back. But what if these same businesses begin feeling economic pain through widespread consumer boycotts? Sales and profits fall. Shareholders get edgy. Stock prices sink. Every missed quarterly report target matters. The consequences can be felt quickly.

Sales and profits are the currency of business, just as polls and votes are the currency of politics.

What Impact Will the Economic Blackout Day Have?

The purpose of the February 28 Economic Blackout Day, and others to follow is to stiffen corporate boardroom backbones by making compliance with White House demands a harder choice. Corporate America has enormous political leverage with its massive army of lobbyists and media advertising buying power. It needs to weigh in to save U.S. institutional democracy from Trump’s assault, not duck and hide in fear of his potential retribution.

Combined with the street actions, town hall turnouts, phone calls, mail, and email already engaged, an effective major retail boycott should be a significant weapon in the effort to challenge the mayhem Trump has launched.

And it might prove to be a wonderful bonus for many small local retail businesses that pick up the pieces.

Here’s a partial list of major retailers who already have succumbed to Trump’s pressure to cut back diverse and equitable corporate programs and policies:

• Ace Hardware

• Alamo Rental Cars

• Allegiant Air

• Amazon

• Arby’s

• Best Buy

• Bacardi

• Baskin and Robbins

• Brown and Forman (parent of Jack Daniels)

• Buffalo Wild Wings

• Buick

• Cadillac

• Charmin

• Chevrolet

• Coca-Cola

• Cuisinart

• Enterprise Rental Car

• Exxon

• Folgers

• Ford

• Fruit of the Loom

• Geico

• GMC

• Grey Goose

• Hanes

• Harley-Davidson

• Hershey

• John Deere

• L.L.Bean

• Land O’ Lakes

• Leggs

• Lowe’s

• Marshalls

• McDonald’s

• META

• Molson Coors

• NAPA Auto Parts

• Nissan

• Norwegian Cruise

• Omni Hotels

• Oreck Vacuums

• Papa John’s

• Procter & Gamble

• Publix

• Purdue Farms

• Shell Oil

• Stanley Black & Decker

• Target

• Tito’s Vodka

• Toast Master

• Toyota

• Tractor Supply

• Urban Outfitters

• Walmart

If you want to cast a vote of protest, hanging on to your wallet February 28 is a cost-free way to do it.

Comments? Criticism? Contact Joe Rothstein at jrothstein@rothstein.net